Warren Beatty captivated female audiences during the ’60s. ’70s and ’80s. During the ’90s, Annette Benning took him off the market bringing an end to his freedom. However even then, females refused to accept the fact he was no longer available. His boyish charm even teasing innocence seemed to make females even more interested in seeing what made the 6’2″ hunk tick.
His love life made for the rumor mill in Hollywood as he romanced, wined and dined and then walked away from the most glamorous females in the business until Benning said ‘no’ to his love em and leave em ways.
When “Heaven Can Wait” was released in 1978, the movie won one Oscar and an additional eight awards with twenty-two total nominations.
Described as a “sweet, whimsical, fairty tale,” “Heaven Can Wait” did not just star, but with a star performance, Beatty mastered the role of Joe Pendleton a quarterback preparing to take his team all the way to the superbowl.
Spoiler Alert: When an over eager guardian angel decides right at the moment before impact to remove Joe feeling death for him is going to be much too painful, he steps in to prevent the hurt, damage or ll of the above.
Joe however, when discovering he has died, refuses to accept his life is over. He demands to be sent back to earth in the same body he was removed from. However, by the time thy determine he was removed before his time, the body Joe resided in has been destroyed.
“Heaven Can Wait” is whimsical, comedic fun with nothing offensive and x-rated for children or other family members. Warren Beatty plays the role of Joe with a charm and wit that has been hard for many to capture or even the actor himself to recapture.
Writers were very aware of their ending to this fantasy. Joe finally receives the body he will spend the remainder of his life in. however, he must not remember any of his prior life when he is finally sent to the new body. At the time he enters his now lifelong body, within minutes of a win and returning to the locker room, has all memory of his former being removed/erased, gone. Except, he has an inkling of recollection of the woman who meant so much to him.; the woman he asked to promise him she would always remember the sparkle in his eyes.
Sometimes, as viewers, we wish we could rewrite some of the endings or even the beginning of a movie. This is one I wish either was rewritten or a sequel was written and released.
Bryant Gumble rarely seen today was cast as a sportcaster on this movie.
Cast:
Warren Beatty – Joe Pendleton
Julie Christie – Betty Logan
Jack Warden – Max Corkle
Charles Grodin – Tony Abbott
